Folklore

A rationale!

Hi all,

You might wonder what this rhyme has to do with Sanatana Dharma.

Everything, that's what!

Each of the numbers act as a key to link to a glorious aspect of Sanatana Dharma. Especially the numbers 3 and 7.

Each brings back memories of many stories, each illustrating another facet of the heritage. In short it is a treasurehouse for Hindus.

Regards.

Prashna

This is the English translation of a lovely old Welsh song called 'Calon Lan' (A Pure Heart).

If you hear the original Welsh, even when you don't know the meaning of the words, it is very moving.

I don't ask for a luxurious life,
the world's gold or its fine pearls,
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.

Chorus
A pure heart full of goodness,
It is more beautiful than the lovely lily,
None but a pure heart can sing,
Sing in the day, sing in the night.

If I asked for worldly wealth,
It would swiftly go to seed;
The riches of a virtuous, pure heart
Will bear eternal profit.

Evening and morning, my wish
Rising to heaven on the wing of song
To God, for the sake of my Saviour,
Give me a pure heart.

This is the English translation of a lovely old Welsh song called 'Calon Lan' (A Pure Heart).

If you hear the original Welsh, even when you don't know the meaning of the words, it is very moving....

Now then, Barafundle,

Why are you confusing me?

You know very well that I am too old to learn Welsh!

But I can read your rendering, and that is so, so uplifting!

If you have a link to the original Welsh singing, please post it. I think I would enjoy hearing it.

Thank you Barafundle.

Live long and prosper.

Prashna

Hi Prashna.......as your on the theme of birds...here's a little folklore on our Robin Redbreast........

It was understood that the Robins breast was originally brown until the day of the ' Crucifixion ' when the Robin visited Jesus on the cross, to take away some of his suffering...... Whist doing this, Jesus's blood, stained the Robins breast.........From that day on, his breast was said to have stayed red in memory of that one kind act.

Oakapple xx

Robin

Hi Prashna.......as your on the theme of birds...here's a little folklore on our Robin Redbreast........

It was understood that the Robins breast was originally brown until the day of the ' Crucifixion ' when the Robin visited Jesus on the cross, to take away some of his suffering...... Whist doing this, Jesus's blood, stained the Robins breast.........From that day on, his breast was said to have stayed red in memory of that one kind act.

Oakapple xx

Thank you, Oakapple,

At last, I know why I love the Robin so much.

Bless the little 'un.

Prashna

If you have a link to the original Welsh singing, please post it. I think I would enjoy hearing it.

I found this one Prashna...

It's very stirring sung by a male voice choir. I found this one sung by Bryn Terfel...

Barfundle

That was beautiful to here ~ nearly brought a tear to my eye.

x

Glad you liked that Holisticheaven.
I think it might be something in the poetry of the language, but there are many songs in Welsh that have that affect.

Hi Barafundle....loved the links

I studied Welsh Celtic history on a correspondent course. You are very lucky to have such a varied folklore and stories, like that of Taliesin......and Gwion, on his journey of initiation.

It's amazing how the period of a year and a day come into folklore .Also the father and mother images of God and Goddess.

Oakapple xx

I studied Welsh Celtic history on a correspondent course.

Really?! I've been involved in several books with themes of Celtic myth and legend over the past few years.

I've illustrated stories of fairy cattle that lived in a lake...

and illustrated lots of stories of Welsh wizards, and I've written a couple too...

The story of Saint Melangell

There was once a beautiful Irish princess called Melangell whose nature was loving and devout. A life of luxury held no attraction for her as she yearned only to serve God. On discovering that her father, an Irish king, was intent on finding her a husband, she fled to a forest in the middle of Wales and made a hermitage.

In the forest Melangell lived in simplicity and dedicated herself to a life in the service of God. She had a special love for the animals of the forest, and they took refuge in her hermitage.

There was a proud and haughty Prince of that area called Brochwel. One day he was out in the forest with his hounds hunting a hare. The terrified animal ran into the clearing in the forest where Melangell was praying, and hid shaking in the folds of her robe. On entering the clearing the prince demanded that Melangell surrender the hare, but she refused saying “The hare needs his life more than you need meat for your soup.”

“I disagree,” said the prince and he commanded his hounds to fetch the hare, but they would not approach Melangell, instead they whimpered and shrunk away.

“Those who hunt and those who are hunted are all God’s creatures,” Melangell said. “That is fair, for everyone must eat. But in this hermitage, all are safe from the supper plate.”

The prince was angry, but Melangell stood firm with quiet resolve, and gradually, under her steady gaze, the prince's anger melted away to be replaced by humility.

"For your sake," he said "as well as for the hare that hides in your skirts, this land will be a perpetual refuge and place of sanctuary."

The church of Saint Melangell today, still a centre of pilgrimage.

I see Melangell in this story being like the Divine Mother, always willing to be our refuge and protector.

Another great story.........loved the illustrations. Quite a talent you have there barafundle

Oakapple xx

I found this one Prashna...

It's very stirring sung by a male voice choir. I found this one sung by Bryn Terfel...

Thank you, Barafundle,

Thank you and thank you.

I have got the wonderwoman Sian James singing and playing the harp on one window as I type this swift response.

Under other circumstances, her singing alone would be enough for me learn Welsh! As it is, at least I have been able to delight in her singing.

Yes of the two links, I very much prefer the first one for singing quality. But the second is memorable for tits images of Wales. Both invaluable!

The text reminds me of Shankaracharyya's best-loved work, Bhaja Govindam. But that's another folk-lore. As Schwarzenegger once remarked:

I shall be back.

Live long and prosper.

Prashna

There was once a beautiful Irish princess called Melangell whose nature was loving and devout. A life of luxury held no attraction for her as she yearned only to serve God. On discovering that her father, an Irish king, was intent on finding her a husband, she fled to a forest in the middle of Wales and made a hermitage.

In the forest Melangell lived in simplicity and dedicated herself to a life in the service of God. She had a special love for the animals of the forest, and they took refuge in her hermitage.
....

I see Melangell in this story being like the Divine Mother, always willing to be our refuge and protector.

Oh dear, Barafundle.

You are so right.

Melangell is indeed like Ma Durga, in the appropriate (but in no way diminished) form.

Reminds me of the tale of Princess Sati, daughter of Daksha. The ending is very different though, results in the dance of destruction by Shiva.

I shall have to recall that some time.

I so enjoyed the story of Melangell, so moving. I hope we can get inspiration from each other's folklore!

Thanks again and great job with the piccies.

Live long and prosper.

Prashna

Hi all,

My next story is very apt as it concerns Ma Durga. Yet it is no part of Shrii Shrii Chadii nor is there any reference to it in Valmiki's Ramayana.

Only Bengal or more specifically the land of Gaur seems to recall it. As did Krittibas in his Ramayana. It's only Bengalis who worship Ma with an the Earthen idol and call it Akal Bodhan(Mods: this means untimely invocation).

Durga Puja was supposed to be in Spring, and it still is in the form of Bashanti Puja in Bengal. That's why the autumn celebration is akal bodhan. As for the earthen image, elsewhere in India various other materials are used, including Brass, stone etc. It's only in Bengal that the earthen idol is made every year afresh, and dissolved in the Ganges after Vijoya Dashmii.

And now the story of akal bodhan...

Prashna

akAl bodhan, or Untimely Invocation.

Hi all,

In Shrii Lanka, a fierce battle had raged for a fortnight and more. The invincible Lakshmana had been struck down by the irresistible Brahmastra (Brahma's energy weapon). He lost consciousness and and would have died except for his infallible devotion to Rama. Hanuman brought the Sanjivani plant, that saved his life.

But the Brahmastra could be used only once! With that gone, Indrajeet, fell pray to the invincible might of Lakshmana.

With all his generals dead, Ravana himself came to the battlefield. Ravana was a rAkshas, a demon, protected by Shiva's boon. that he could not be killed, except by a human. To ensure his destruction, the seventh avatar of Vishnu was born as a human Prince, Rama. Unmatched in battle, Rama fought Ravana for two days and still Ravana could not be vanquished. He became weary and desperate, knowing that only Brahmashakti (the power of Brahman) could defeat the one blessed by Shiva.

So he made a clay image of Ma Durga and proceeded to invoke her. Carefully he had collected the 108 Niil Kamal (blue lotuses, or blue nymphaea) needed to invoke the Mother. But Mahamaya (another name for Ma Durga) wanted to test Rama's devotion.

Effortlessly with her maya (poor translation, illusion) she hid one flower. Poor Rama, he could not complete the invocation with 107 blue lotuses. But he thought "people call me neel-kamal, because my eyes are supposed to resemble a blue lotus. I shall offer mother one of my eyes instead."

So thinking, he strung his bow, the magical Vishnu-chaap and loaded it with an arrow. Ma Durga herself appeared before him, to stop him and gave him back the missing flower.

So Rama completed his untimely puja and was blessed by Ma Durga. The rest is the stuff of legends.

Ever since then, Durga Puja has been performed in the autumn over most of India and especially in Bengal.

Regards.

Prashna

There was once a beautiful Irish princess called Melangell whose nature was loving and devout. ...

Hi Barafundle,

While visiting the Durga Puja, I had reason to remember your lovely story and be very thankful indeed!

There was a young man there, the son of a Bengali Doctor I have known for 25 years or so! Almost didn't recognise the young man, he had grown so! Also because, beside him was a most beautiful young lass. Turned out that she was Welsh and engaged to this young man, who had addressed me by the traditional title of Uncle.

Well, your story helped immensely there, in breaking the ice.

A charming young Welsh belle, if I may say so.

Regards.

Prashna

pancha=tantra-kathA-mukham

Hi all,

Most of us have heard of Aesop's fables or Grimm's fairy tales (incidentally, the first extracurricular book in English I read, a long time ago now, and so far away...).

Well the ancients had their own version of the same. It was called "Pancha-tantra-katha-mukham." This translates most roughly as five kinds of stories.

Wonderful, wonderful stories. I would like to recall one of those, to give a flavour of the book. For those who are interested, you could find more at these sites:

<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://panchatantra.org/ "> http://panchatantra.org/

<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://www.candlelightstories.com/Stories/Panchatantra.htm "> http://www.candlelightstories.com/Stories/Panchatantra.htm

[DLMURL="http://www.indiaoz.com.au/hinduism/kids_corner/panchatantra/panchatantra4.shtml"] http://www.indiaoz.com.au/hinduism/kids_corner/panchatantra/panchatantra4.shtml [/DLMURL]

On to the sampler, then:

Regards.

Prashna

Beware of flattery

Hi all,

Crows are like magpies. Anything bright, any crumb of food; they pick it up and off they go.

One day this crow noticed a piece of cheese lying on the road in front of a grocer’s shop. OK it was no edam, or even a babybel. If you don’t recognise that from the flying babybel TV ad, here’s a reminder:

<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://www.bel-uk.co.uk/ourCheeses/miniBabybel.php "> http://www.bel-uk.co.uk/ourCheeses/miniBabybel.php

Anyway down swooped Mr. Crow, beaked the cheese and off! Straight to a branch high up a tree. Settled down to a tasty tucker!

Mr Fox arrived, looked up, hatched a plan.

“Good Morning, Mr Crow, how are you this fine morning”.
You know; the standard opener that the mobile phone salesmen use, when they phone you out of the blue!

Crow thought at least the fox is civil. But his mouth was full, couldn’t respond, so turned away.

Undeterred, the fox continued “Have you just arrived here? I have seen so many crows here in this wood, but never one so handsome! How glossy coat you have! How jet-black and shiny are your feathers!”

The crow thought, Mr. Fox can’t be all bad. He can appreciate good looks when he finds it. He looked at the fox, dreamily. Still, he was careful. Didn’t open his mouth!

Mr. Fox said a bit louder and more firmly “ Really you are the Prince among crows! Your grace and poise have lit up not only the tree but the entire wood! Never seen such beauty!”

Mr. Crow swelled with pride. At last a true admirer, he thought. Then again, he hesitated, perhaps it’s the cheese that Mr. Fox is after! No, No, can’t be. Plenty of tasty worms and nuts in the woods. Why should he hanker after a half-eaten cheese? Perhaps he truly admires my youthful beauty.

Mr. Fox really looked sad. He said to himself, as though thinking aloud, “Really, God is so unjust! Such matchless beauty, such grace, such poise! Yet no voice! If only Mr. Crow could sing, the heavenly voice would match his Princely looks!” He begged Mr. Crow “If you can speak at all, would you please delight my heart with just one bar of your lovely singing!”

Mr. Crow was so beside himself with pride and joy that he momentarily forgot about the cheese.

He began to sing!

And the fox disappeared.

With the cheese, naturally, what did you think?

Regards.

Prashna

What a charming thread! I just noticed it this evening - thanks for starting it Prashna.

And Barafundle - I am in awe of your artistic talent - those are delightful illustrations! 🙂

Judy

And Barafundle - I am in awe of your artistic talent - those are delightful illustrations!

Thank you, Judy. I'm glad you like them.:009:

beside him was a most beautiful young lass. Turned out that she was Welsh and engaged to this young man, who had addressed me by the traditional title of Uncle.

Well, your story helped immensely there, in breaking the ice.

A charming young Welsh belle, if I may say so

I'm glad something I've written here on HP has proven useful to someone. 🙂

Talking of beautiful Welsh belles, that reminds me of a story…

Saint Govan and the Silver Bell

The 5th and 6th centuries in Wales is referred to as 'The Age of Saints'.

Saint Govan was one of those saints. He was an old hermit who lived amongst the rocks at the base of a cliff in West Wales. He'd made himself a cell in the rocks, and spent his life in contemplation and prayer. Saint Govan possessed nothing worldly except for one precious thing; a silver bell. At every break of day the saint would loudly ring the bell so that all who heard it could be reminded of the glory of God and his creation.

One day, pirates, having heard of the saint’s bell, came to where Saint Govan lived in order to take it for their own. They landed with murderous intent, and clambered over the rocks towards Govan’s shelter.

Govan looked up from his devotions on hearing the pirates approach. He knew there was nothing he could do to stop them, and backing towards the cliff Saint Govan turned to Heaven asking for guidance. Just then a cleft opened in the rocks, wide enough for the old man to fit, and closing again, the rocks kept him safe from the marauders.

The pirates were shocked by the sight of the cliff swallowing the old man. They hurriedly took the silver bell and returned to their ship.

After they had gone, the cliff opened up to release Saint Govan. He was sad at the loss of his bell, not for himself, but because he could no longer ring it in praise of Almighty God. He sat quietly on the rocks for a long time looking out to sea.

Even when the sky turned black and the storm blew up, he remained huddled on the rocks looking out to sea.

A little while before dawn saint Govan noticed a light far out to sea. As he watched the light drew closer and closer, until he at last he made out that two angels.

“We have returned your bell to you, beloved Govan.” They said, and indeed the saint saw that between them they carried his silver bell! He was overjoyed and thanked the angels.

“We shall put it in a safe place so that no-one can take it again, and it will ring out every day proclaiming God’s glory and your great devotion.”

The angels placed the bell in a great rock that was pounded by the sea, and to this day it rings from below Saint Govan’s chapel.

St. Govan’s chapel now stands at the site of the saint’s cell. The place where St Govan hid is now the anteroom at the back of the chapel, and the strange markings in the rock wall show where his ribs were pressed against the rocks when the cliff embraced him.

The chapel is one of my favourite places.

Now then, Barafundle,

I really, really liked your story!

And I shall treasure it!

So here is another from Bengal this time to complement it!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As the first lights of Sun break through and you tread the dusty red earth of Birbhum and approach the water’s edge, you might find some ducks already waddling to the pond! If you are lucky, you might find a Kingfisher or two, perched on branch overlooking the pond.

If you were lucky, you might even find it swooping down into the water.

But soon you find yourself surrounded by Palm trees. And if you look up, you find a pitcher, a very common earthen pitcher high up and tied to the tree. You are puzzled! I have seen these used to store drinking water, what’s it doing here: you wonder! Gathering palm juice, that’s what!

If you strain your eyes you might just see, a small cut on the trunk above the neck of the pitcher. And you might see, little droplets trickling into the pitcher. Well, as a child. we loved that drink, early in the morning. Beats any orange juice, I tell you. But we HAD to finish it within minutes, if not seconds. Why what’s the hurry, you might well wonder!

Well, by the time the farm worker had brought round the pitcher with the palm juice still fresh, and we were ready to drink it, the sun had been up for about two hours. The temperature had already reached 36 degrees Celsius. Soon it would exceed 40 or 104 degrees Faherenheit. Within an hour, the juice would have an alcohol content of over 10%. Give it another hour, and it would reach 40%. What’s wrong with that, we have Malt in Scotland that’s a wee bit stronger. And we have a wee dram or two or three, no problem!

Indeed. But this was unrefined liqueur, somewhat more potent than your average or even exceptional Malt. I do not advise you to drink this stuff, unless of course you are tired of this life and seek a better one!

So like the angels that we were, (if you believe that, you will believe anything!) we finished our drink and breakfast (pretty substantial, sometimes) and started our daily studies, play, whatever.

But Jagai and Madhai were no angels. Quite the opposite, to begin with.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This then is their story.

Regards.

Prashna

The Pitcher’s Edge

The time: 1515; A.D. that is.

The place: Nabadwip, in district NadiA, Gaur (now known as West Bengal).

The word NadiA simply refers to ‘nadi’ or river, in this case the Holy river Ganga. The word ‘Nabadwip’ means nine islands or new island (in this case). It simply refers to the fact the entire Gangetic plain was formed by sedimentation from the Holy river Ganga. However, here it refers to a particular township where Chaitanya MahAprabhu was leading a revolution based on pure and unqualified love.

I know the place well, as I spent my childhood in the townships of Kalna and Katwa, hallowed by the footsteps of Mahaprabhu, over 400 years before I was born!

Well, GaurAnga (another name by which MahAprabhu is fondly and passionately remembered) had already found NitAi or NityAnanda (his full name). Or I should say NitAi had found GaurAnga. But from that auspicious day the two were one, like RAma and Lakshmana. Nitai led the chants and GaurAnga brought up the rear. And between them the crowd grew ever larger!

But two powerful brothers were not among them: Jagai and Madhai.

As Kotals, they were the LAW in Nabadwip. Unfortunately as men, far wiser than I can ever become, have said:

“All power corrupts, Absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

They plundered the hard-working of their riches. the women of their modesty and the weak of their life or limbs. In brief, they were the Mafia of Nabadwip. They forsook their noble heritage of Brahmin birth and chose a life of sin. Sin consisting of the pleasures of the flesh, to excess! Yes, they left the Palm juice in the earthen pitcher, the type of which you can find here:

<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=70349&month=10&year=2007 "> http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=70349&month=10&year=2007

to ferment to a very intoxicating potent brew and imbibed.

Well, Chaitanya heard the woes of the decent people of Nabadwip and decided to act! He arranged a morning chant past the quarters of Jagai and Madhai. Needless to say, by the time the procession chanting the good name of Krishna, Radha and Hari reached their target, it was mid-morning! Jagai and Madhai had already had a few!

They heard the chanting, came out to investigate and found Nitai chanting the magical tune

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

They were furious, even more so when Nitai held the hand of Jagai, the elder brother, and begged him to take the name of Krishna. Madhai was younger and stronger. “I am not having this, in front of my own house, too!” he thought. He picked up the broken fragment of the rim of an earthen pitcher, that he had drunk from only minutes ago! He threw it with all his might at the head of Nitai.

Gaping wound, blood rushing out, Nitai pressed his palm on the wound to stop the bleeding! Madhai picked up another piece of the earthen rim, and aimed at the head of Nitai. Jagai stopped him, he being older, had drunk a bit less. “Killing a sanyasin now, are we?”

Gauranga saw the whole thing and ran to Nitai. He tore up his own covering and dressed Nitai’s wound. Then he embraced Jagai and thanked him profusely for saving the life of his elder (adopted) brother.

At the touch of Gauranga, Jagai fell down on his feet. Madhai followed his elder brother and sought forgiveness from Gauranga! Gauranga said to Madhai “it’s not me that you’ve sought to harm! It’s Nitai.” But when Madhai went to Nitai to seek forgiveness, Nitai would not oblige!

Instead, he just embraced Madhai and sang the immortal verse :

"merecho kalasir kana
___ Ta bale ki prem dibona."

Which translates as:

Struck with the edge of the pitcher,
___ You have and my head bleeds
Is that sufficient reason
___ to withhold my love from you?

You would hear these lines to this day in Bengal, when bengalis recall with great fondness their own nader nimAi(NimAi of NadiA)

Well the rest is the stuff of Gaur’s heritage and I am privileged to share only a small part of it with you today.

More here:

<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://www.dlshq.org/saints/gauranga.htm "> http://www.dlshq.org/saints/gauranga.htm

and here

[DLMURL="http://www.salagram.net/parishad43.htm"] http://www.salagram.net/parishad43.htm [/DLMURL]

Nice pictures of GaurAnga and NitAi from the last link:

Regards.

Prashna

The Pitcher's Edge- an Epilogue:

Hi all,

A little bit more info on the Jagai-Madhai story.

The verse that Nitai and the procession were chanting is the well known:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

For a beautiful rendering, listen to the 5th and the last (10th) track on :

[url] http://www.bhaktisangeet.com/bhajan/jagjit/krishna/jc1.html [/url]

The 5th one is based on Puriya, a Raga for Sunset.

But my personal favourite is the last one, based on Raga Bhairavi, a raga for the late morning, which is when Nitai must have passed the abode of Jagai and Madhai.

More info on Raga Bhairavi (one of the most seminal) here:

[url] http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit05132002/musicarts.asp [/url]

That page has links to some of the finest songs based on Raga Bhairavi. Far too many to link here, but try these. You might well be tempted to click on the rest:

In the lilting nectar voice of Lata Mungeshkar:

[url] http://www.sawf.org/audio/bhairavi/lata_gharaayaa.ram [/url]

[url] http://www.sawf.org/audio/bhairavi/lata_mainpiya.ram [/url]
with the haunting Bansuri (Bamboo flute played by Pannalal Ghose)

and [url] http://www.sawf.org/audio/bhairavi/rafi_yehzindagi.ram [/url]

When Nitai embraced Madhai with total love, and sang that beautiful verse, both Jagai and Madhai were overwhelmed and transformed. They became the most ardent devotees of Gauranga and atoned for their past sins with humble service to all.

They dug out, spade in hand, a bathing ghat on the holy river Ganga. If you visit Nabadwip and ask the locals for “Madhai’s ghat”, you can still see that memorable ghat,

Such is the stuff of Legends!

Regards.

Prashna

Hi all,

More than any other Hindu in the last 100 years, Mahatma Gandhi appears to non-Hindus as embodying the principles of Sanatana Dharma. His use of peaceful non-co-operation as a political process is held up often as an example! Yet, he was neither an Acharya (a great exponent of Sanatana Dharma) nor the first to use that political process! :023:

He was preceded by many Acharyas, who used peaceful means to bring about change. Three hundred and eighty years before Gandhi organised his famous ‘salt march’, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu organised his namsankirtan (singing the blessed name) to oppose another unjust rule. :grouphug:

As the following story illustrates… :043:

Prashna

Gauranga and the Kazi.

The time : circa 1510 AD
The place: Nadia, Nabadwip, Gaur (now West Bengal)

By now, Chaitanya was something of a celebrity.
His message of love was as overpowering as it was uplifting.
He swept aside the inequities of the caste system and embraced everyone. :grouphug:

His daily namsankirtans (singing the blessed name) were bringing in the oppressed and the downtrodden. The ecstasy of the sacred ‘haribol’ (chant the name of hari) swept all and swept aside all differences, even differences of religion. Muslim forces had recently overcome Bengal, then Gaur. Many former Hindus converted to Islam, sometimes under duress, sometimes to escape the inequities of the then prevalent caste system. Now that Gauranga offered them unconditional love, many of them wanted to return to their natural faith! :hug:

Chand Kazi Barbahak did not like that at all. 😡 He was the local Muslim ruler and had absolute power in that part of the land. He issued a ban on all religious processions and public singing. Anyone defying the ban would be converted to Islam by force. 😮

What to do? :confused:

In utter dismay, the faithful devotees sought the refuge of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He smiled as always, and assured them:
“We will have the namsankirtan this evening, as usual. Tell everyone!” 😎

Evening came. Gauranga divided the vast number of gathered devotees in 14 groups and led the singing groups himself through the streets of Nadia. More and more people joined the singing till it became a torrent. Finally, they reached the road on which the Kazi lived.

The Kazi had asked to be kept informed. He could hear the chanting like waves crashing on the seashore! He knew that “prudence is the better part of valour”. Wisely, he kept a low profile!

Nimai would have none of this.
He did the usual, you know, “Make love, not war” that sort of thing! :hippy:

But as Frank Carson used to say "It's the way I tell 'em!" 😀 This was Gauranga himself, not me. How could the Kazi resist? He invited Nimai in. :047:

Fool! :025:

Nimai could debate the Qur’an backwards and knew the Vedas better than the palm of his hand. Learned Acharyas had cause to change their underpants in debate with this inspired genius. Admittedly that was long ago and Nimai had changed a lot. But he had lost none of his edge.

Nimai showed the Kazi how unjust his proclamation was and got him to rescind it.

The rest as they say, is history!

Regards.

Prashna

Hi all,

Here's a quickie. It is short but only in length, not in significance. It concerns that much misunderstood concept, ahimsa.

Now let's be clear. I am not going to discuss the Jain, Sikh or Buddhist concepts of ahimsa. This is from the perspective of sanatana dharma, pure and simple.

Ahimsa is a sanskrit term and concept which is central to sanatana dharma. Now the etymology:

ahimsA = a + himsA
a = Not or non-,
himsA = MALICIOUS violence.

It is not just violence.

For example, a peregrine falcon swooping on a field rabbit or a bird carrying a worm to its nest to feed its children most certainly constitutes violence. But it does NOT constitute himsA.

Malice or malice aforethought is an essential ingredient of himsA. Thus an action may itself be violent, but when necessary and carried out with total detachment it does not contravene dharma.

This is the concept enshrined as mens rae in the British justice system. To qualify as murder, not only the killing has to be established but a deliberate intent to kill must be established.

Thus it can be said that the concept of ahimsA predated and embodied the concept of mens rae by a mere 3,500 years!

As the following story illustrates....

Regards.

Prashna

Rishi Agastya and the Cobra.

Rishi Agastya was going to Dakshinattya (South India) crossing the Vindhyas(Mountain system running east-west across Central India). In the forest, he came across a cobra. Purely from habit, the Cobra raised its hood about to strike. Agastya could have turned the cobra to cinders with one glance, but didn't. Instead he told it who he was. :nature-smiley-008:

The cobra was suitably apologetic,
begged forgiveness and wished to serve penance. 😮

Agastya told him to practice AHIMSA. :hippy:

Six months later, as he was returning, he could barely recognise the cobra.

Gone was the steely spring,
___the beautiful markings,
______the electric reflexes. :034:

Instead there was the ghost of a snake, barely alive,
downtrodden by every creature of the forest.

The cobra, once feared by all, was dying! 🙁

Agastya told him off: :eeeK:

“You fool! I told you not to strike at random.
Not that you could not raise your hood.” :nature-smiley-008:

Avatar

Hi all, :045:

In Sanatana Dharma, ‘Avatar’ is a very precise term and no mere vague expression of reverence. :037:

It might help to start by contrasting an Avatar with someone who realizes ‘moksha’(or union with the ‘atman’ or ‘brahman’) in the highest form of ‘samadhi’ (total immersion or deepest form of meditation). :037: In Sanatana Dharma, the latter achieves moksha as the climax of many births, at the top of a karmic pyramid as it were, each life building on the previous one. Just as Oscar Wilde said:
:036: “every saint has a past and every sinner a future!” :045:

But an avatar, being a divine incarnation, does not and cannot have a past, or a future! :035:

An avatar may be born, but not reborn! He/she/it has no past karma to hold him/her/it back, nor a goal to attain. An avatar enters mortal domain ruled by kala (time) and bound by ‘maya’(very imperfect translation : illusion), but is not bound by kala or maya.

On page 96, Isherwood elaborates a bit further:

Apparently, Sanatana Dharma suggests 19 kinds of Spiritual Rasas(moods).

Please don’t ask what these are. I don’t know nor care. To me one is sufficient! Apparently, all 19 can only be found combined in an avatar, since no human being, however saintly could sustain them all and live! :037:

Bhairavi knew Ramakrishna to be an avatar. Gauri and Pandit Vashnava Charan, both eminent scholars in their time, were called to debate the issue and both withdrew. They had nothing to debate. They both came to agree with Bhairavi! :hug:

So why do we have avatars, anyway? :dft005:

Good question, and one well illustrated by Ramakrishna himself. That charming story forms my next post…

Regards.

Prashna